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Obituary for Robert Lee Lortscher
Ophir resident Robert (Bob) Lortscher passed away on August 13, 2022, at the age of 68. He was born January 17, 1954, in Marysville, Kansas to Kenneth L. and Norma J. (Jackson) Lortscher, oldest of 3 children. He grew up in Canoga Park with his father & Uncle Jim & Aunt Diane Lortscher of Northridge until his father passed away when he was 12 years old. In High School years he lived with his Grandmother Jackson of Blue Rapids, KS & attended Cloud County Community College in 1972 before moving to Hays, KS to attend Fort Hays State University where he completed his BA in Art in 1976. Robert participated as a High Plains Printmaker & he worked as a Graduate Assistant while completing an MA in Printmaking & Metal Design in 1978. Robert & his wife Elaine married in 1975 and moved to Lindsborg, KS in 1979 where he taught Art in District 400 & worked as a professional artist including printing for Artist Lester Raymer among others until 1983 when he enjoyed working as a Sculpture Assistant in Hays with Artist Pete Felton on the KS State Capitol Statue project. He then completed his M. F. A. at FHSU in1985 in Lithography & Painting. Robert & Elaine Lortscher moved to Pembroke Pines, Florida where he worked14 years in the Miami Dade School District in the Performing & Visual Arts Program as an Art Teacher and worked teaching at the Miami New World School of the Arts two summers. Robert was honored for his Art Sketch Book Workshops for educators & his techniques were utilized in teacher certification. As a local professional artist, he completed two large recreations live at the Dade County Youth Fair both collected & placed permanently at the Dade County Auditorium & the other at the Omni International Mall. He worked creating private mural collections and enjoyed making art & traveling with the many gifted students he had the opportunity to work with in Miami.
The Lortschers along with daughter Elizabeth moved to Gold Beach Oregon in 1999 where Robert continued to work as a professional artist & had the pleasure to assist with Sculpture Artists at Nesika Beach Bronze Foundry, teach printmaking at SOCC, Nature print workshops at OIMB with Artist Don Jenson & show at the many local galleries, belong to the Manley Art Center & complete local murals. His passion with rockhounding, gemstone faceting, & stone carving expanded as he worked with the many beautiful specimens Oregon & especially Curry County has to offer. Robert enjoyed educating his daughter Elizabeth in the Arts & natural stone design at his home studio. His final days were enjoyed with his family bird watching with the beauty of Humbug Mountain to inspire & phone visits with family & his closest friends comforted him.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard. He is survived by his widow Elaine, daughter Elizabeth, brother Ronald Lortscher of Manhattan, KS and his sister-in-law Shirley Norland Lortscher of Brookings, OR. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to the local A. R. C.
Redwood Memorial Chapel is assisting the family who will honor his wishes of a private ceremony to spread his ashes.
